Sliding envelope opener



March 23, 1954 v. M. BRIDY SLIDING ENVELOPE OPENER Filed Feb. 23, 1951 v Kmznaz INVENTOR Patented Mar. 23, 1954 SLIDING ENVELOPE OPENER 1 Victor M. Bridy, Atlas, Pa., assignor of fifty per cent to William J. Costa, Atlas, Pa.

Application February 23, 1951, Serial No. 212,464

- An important object ofthe invention is to provide an opener of this character which will cut away only a small portion of the envelope without danger of cutting the letter or contents of the envelope, as frequently happens when cutting envelopes open with scissors.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an envelope opener including a blade so supported on a guide rail that it may be tilted, so that either end of the blade may taken a position to cut the envelope, as the blade is moved through the envelope.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a blade and a carrier for supporting the blade, the carrier being movable to force the blade downwardly, with means for limiting such downward movement of the carrier and blade.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an envelope opener constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental enlarged elevational view partly broken away, illustrating the blade carrier of the opener.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the base of the opener is indicated generally by the reference character 5 and is provided with the groove 6 formed in the upper surface thereof and disposed longitudinally of the base in parallel spaced relation with one edge of the base.

Rising from the upper surface of the base 5 and disposed between the groove 6 and adjacent edge of the base 5, is the rail 1 which is provided with the elongated opening 8 located longitudinally of the base.

This rail 1 provides a support for the blade carrier 9 which is of a U-shaped construction in cross section, as providing side members I0 and II, which fit on opposite sides of the rail 1, the

1 Claim. (01.15443) rail 1 acting as a guide for the blade carrier 9 to insure the proper movement of the carrier over the base when in operation.

I The side member ID is recessed providing a space for the reception of the blade 12, which is of a sizeto fit within the, recessed portion of the member l0 with its cutting edge I3 extended below the lower edge of the side member ID, as clearly shown by Fig. 3 of the drawing.

It will be seen that the cutting edge l3 of said blade operates directly above the groove 6 in the base.

The blade I2 is held in the recessed portion of the side member ID, by means of the plate [4 that exactly fits within the recessed portion, the plate [4 and side members It and H, as well as the blade l2, being provided with aligning openings to receive the securing bolt IS, the reduced end I6 of the bolt passing through the openings of the plate I4 and the blade l2. A nut l1, which is threaded on the reduced end It of the bolt I5, provides means for drawing the plate I l into close engagement with the blade l2, securing the blade in position.

The reference character l8 indicates a leaf spring which has curved ends l9 that rest against the upper serface of the rail 1, as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing, the leaf spring being curved and secured within the blade carrier by the screw 20. Extending into the blade carrier 9, are the adjustable stops 2|, which are threaded in openings formed in the carrier 9 and operated or adjusted to regulate the movements of the blade carrier when being tilted, from a point exteriorly of the carrier.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to this construction, the carrier is normally held in a true horizontal position by the action of the spring l8, and when the carrier is to be operated to open an envelope, pressure is directed to the top of the carrier adjacent to one end thereof so that the trailing end of the blade 12 will be depressed to operate below the front end of the carrier, so that a true shearing action of the blade will be insured, to evenly out the envelope, as the carrier is moved longitudinally of the rail 1.

With this device, either end of the carrier may be depressed so that the device may be operated by left-handed persons, as well as right-handed persons, without moving the base.

It will be further noted that when depressing one end of the carrier, the stop 2| of the depressed end of the carrier, will contact the spring i8 and limit the downward movement of the carrier to r 3 prevent damage of the blade by contact with the base.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction and operation of the envelope opening device will be obvious and that further descriptive matter is unnecessary.

Havingathus described the invention, what is i l'm on? .n inal i1 we, a

An envelope opener comprising a base having a groove in the upper surface thereof dispos longitudinally of the base, a rail rising from t e base disposed in longitudinal Sparta-trauma with the groove, said rail having a lop gitudin ally,

elongated opening extending transveri ekg'stlre through, a carrier slidably mounted on he rai,

said carrier having a recessix 'te'iidihg inwardly from one edge thereof, said recess being -subst a ntially deeper than the height of the rail; a leaf ra a eeurg lvr n he its ee e ie i e e t e Elllifi th se ies r teth ends Ofth Spring iing on the upper ends,

the 0 Aim... o mally holding the carrier 4 tion on said rail, a cutting blade mounted on the carrier extending beyond the lower edge of the carrier, directly over said groove, said carrier adapted to be tilted downwardly at either end moving the blade into contact with an article p0- sitioned thereunder, cutting the article, and adamiabl t nsmi m qag na s end .theiteofi, gbiid extending gnggme recess of lie "earner erigageable with the iippr 'surface of said rail, limiting the tilting movement of said carrier.

VICTOR M. BRIDY.

"margarine-"1n the file of this patent STATES PATENTS 

